Mace didn’t care about his mind games, only wanted some clue as to Lexi’s position. “Where are they taking her?” he gritted between his teeth.
“I’ve been wondering,” Justice said in a lazy tone, one at odds with the blood streaking from his body. “Do you know who your girlfriend is, and you’re protecting her? Or are you as stupid as you look?”
Mace stiffened, his heart rate kicking inside his chest. As an agent, Justice would be required to know everything related to CORE politics. He would have recognized Nia. But had the fucker told Foley about her ruling-class heritage before Mace arrived?
And Mace had brought her here, where she could be harmed, and left her on her own.
Justice’s bruised lips broke into a wide smile. “You Tells are so easy to read, so emotional. You’ve been protecting her, and now you’re wondering if I told the other guy.” He turned his head to the observation window. “Maybe he’s out there listening right now.
No one knew Nia was here. She was safe. And Mace wouldn’t allow him to lead this conversation. “Where are they taking Lexi?”
“What would he do to your girlfriend? I know you Tells like to flaunt your savage reputation as much as possible, scare the masses with your might and all that. What would he do before sending her home broken? Beat her? Mind fuck her until she doesn’t remember her own name? String her to a bulkhead and remove her skin a centimeter at a time?”
Rage threatened to consume him at the suggestions, but Mace couldn’t allow the agent to fuck with him. Nia was safe. She was going home on a transport today, in under an hour. Betel’s contacts were solid. He wouldnotlose focus to this man’s head games. “Where are they taking Lexi?” he repeated.
“Lexi who? I don’t know a Lexi.” Justice’s voice came out lifeless, like it was computerized. Then his smile flashed again, his eyes glancing at the tray of tools next to him. “You Tells aren’t nearly as creative as CORE specialists. During training, they practice on us agents. It’s a great time, I can assure you.”
Pressure squeezed Mace’s chest. A fanatical light entered the agent’s eyes. Justice wouldn’t break. Mace had seen the expression too many times. There wasn’t enough fear there to work with. Justice knew he wasn’t getting free, and truly wanted to die right here and now.
He wouldn’t confess Lexi’s location no matter how much Mace asked, and no matter how many cuts Foley gave him.
Desperation made him brace his hands against the table, lean forward, and say, “If you have even an ounce of affection for my sister, you’ll tell me where they’re taking her.”
Justice grinned and leaned forward. “Affection? Yeah, she was a good fuck.”
Jaw clenching, hands fisting, Mace closed his eyes and tried to tamp his anger. But all he saw was Lexi’s bruised face behind his eyelids.
“Do you know how often she begged me to put my dick in her?”
He could not appeal to Justice’s humane side because he didn’t have one.
“Tell slut couldn’t keep her legs together for anything. Rank whore.”
Mace pushed away from the table in an effort not to take one of those tools and stab him through the ear canal.
But Justice wouldn’t shut up. “She would always scream, ‘Harder! Harder!’”
Mace closed his eyes. He knew the man was manipulating him but couldn’t stop the rage. The door opened, and his eyes popped open to find Grey standing there, his expression full of warning. It barely made an impression.
He needed to leave. Grey could finish. He’d handle it properly.
Then Justice’s next words made him stop cold.
“I was assured by the arresting general that every defender on board the Guardian would make it ashardas possible.”
On a roar, Mace vaulted over the table, took the agent’s head in his hands, and twisted. The pop and crack ricocheted off the bulkheads. In the resulting silence, Mace’s ragged breathing echoed off the bulkheads.
He let go, and the body slumped forward, leaving a trail of blood down his arm. Chest heaving, hands clenched by his sides, he stared unseeingly at the bulkhead. Visions of Lexi, of the horrors Justice had painted with words, flashed in his brain. He couldn’t stop it.
“We’ve been summoned,” Grey said from behind him, cutting the quiet. “Walk it off. I’ll take care of this and make the necessary reports.”
Mace spun away from the body. This would be another mark against him, but he couldn’t conjure the proper remorse. He lifted his eyes and saw only understanding in Grey’s gaze.
A communique from Cache waited to be acknowledged on his vambrace. He’d been so involved with Justice, he hadn’t heard it.
Straightening his uniform, he stepped into the corridor, then tensed.
Foley stood against the bulkhead, arms crossed and a disgusted expression on his face. “You’ve got to be the shittiest enforcer in the sector.”
